4 Simple Tips to Improve Running Form Today

Ever feel like there is an endless loop of things you should be doing to get better at running? So much so that you throw your hands up {not in the party way} decide to ignore it all and just go run?

Me too.

After 11 years running, I’ve digested the assorted recommendations, eliminated the quacktastic one’s and settled on a few tweaks for running injury free without added stress.Summon your inner child and get ready to be a STAR performer.These simple tweaks do not require you to change your stride, pick new shoes or add time to the workout. During each run, spot check your form these 4 running form tips {trying doing it after every 2-3 songs}:

SHOULDERSFor most people one of the first places to noticeably feel tension is the shoulders, if yours are beginning to resemble earrings it’s time to relax.

Take a deep breathe and sigh, you should feel your shoulders drop immediately

Throughout the run do this to eliminate energy wasted in shoulder tension

Dropped shoulders will open your chest up for better breathing

TALL As we begin to fatigue our natural inclination is to slouch thinking that we are letting our body relax. This curved body position makes running harder because you are not engaging the core, tightening the lungs and effecting you mentally.

Pull up from the top of your head

Stretch your arms diagonally up to help you stand tall, chest forward with just a slight lean

ARMS Holding your arms against your sides requires 12% more energy than letting them naturally swing…since I’m sure none of you do that here are a few arm movement tips to keep you from swinging across the body or too hard, both of which can lead to IT band and other injuries..

Hold a butterfly wing between your thumb and pointer finger

Hands in a light fist with palms facing towards your body

Thumb tip is thus pointed forward and the thumb knuckles towards the sky

This hand placement helps to prevent cross body arm swing, which is an injury magnet

Arms should stay bent roughly 90 degrees, forward and back

RELAXHow can you tell when someone is really concentrating? Their eyes narrow, their brow furrows and maybe even their lips purse…all of this might be great for communication, but on the run it’s lots of wasted energy that could be used for propelling you forward and farther

say to yourself “relax, let go” a few times during a hard effort

muscles you didn’t realize you were tense release and the effort becomes much easier

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Website written, managed and maintained by Amanda Brooks. I am a certified personal trainer, but any advice should be taken as general information and not a personalized plan. All opinions, tips and reviews are based upon my personal life experience and the experiences of those around me. View my full review policy.